Nashville For All of Us out of the gate

Well, the movement to defeat Eric Crafton's English-only ballot measure has a name. Nashville For All of Us--it's got a kind of "Shiny, Happy People" feel to it, but it sends the right message. It's good to see that the serious questions about strategy have begun to be addressed, too. There seems to be discussion about the merits of a full-scale public campaign with yard signs, etc. vs. a targeted get-out-the-vote effort. Metro Councilman Ronnie Steine favors the latter.

"I think you have a real campaign," Steine said. "But I don't know if you have all of those elements. If you believe, as I do, that on Jan. 22 you won't have a very large number of people going to the polls, you don't need a massive countywide public relations campaign. You need to identify those people that will go to vote, and then get them to go vote."

The coalition of business people, clergy, and activists is looking to hire a campaign manager and has already filed with the Davidson County Election Commission.

This is one of the first media stories I've seen that didn't make Crafton the focus. Given the polling that shows the issue is close, more coverage like this, and a good campaign, there is a real chance the measure will be defeated in January.